Council

Thank you. I've tried not to speak more than I need to today, but I just want to speak about two things. Firstly, I did decide at the last minute to support having more consultation sessions, and partly that's because these are actually very big issues. There are enormous issues in here, and water reform, and for my local community, actually, mata moana is big. And so I think that by allowing for more consultation education sessions, they can be used flexibly, and I'd like to see some ones really just dedicated to water reform and one out in the east dedicated to matau moana. And, you know, I'm not expecting it's just a double-up. They can be used quite creatively. At least that's what I hope. So I did support that in the end. I do want to talk about what I'm not going to support, you know, and again, I would like to add my thanks to the people who've helped make this process as pain-free as it could be, and to the staff who've had to step up and do an enormous amount of work since we made the— in my mind, the wrong decision about the airport, but that's just me. Yeah, I recognise the work, and especially for you, Chair, you've had a heap of work to do. But I cannot support a pre— what I see as a predetermined position on our water decision. And so anything that assumes that we have a position on a subject that's out for consultation, I'm actually not going to support. I'm also not going to support for another reason, for the same reason but elaborating, I cannot support the $8 million for our share of the entity establishment costs because I asked for some details and really there weren't any details. And I Again, it feels to me like predetermining a position, and I don't see why we have to do that now. I think we could actually agree when we do know what the money is to come up with the money, whatever it takes, with a lot more information in front of us. I don't— I actually agree with you, Councillor Calvert. I don't think we should be putting rates on our credit card. I'm not going to support $16 million being debt-funded, $16.5 million. Mentioned in Item 7. And again, I don't think it's— I know we had a briefing on this, but I'm still not entirely clear why we got that extra charge and we didn't know we were getting it, but never mind. And the depreciation, Number 8, presupposes an outcome which I— that's why I won't be supporting that. Apart from that, I think we've made the decision decisions we need to make really, and I'm happy with the way the meeting's gone and the collective judgment that we're showing. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll speak now. I just want to say that I strongly urge you to vote in favour of 7. And if you do not vote in favour of 7, which is to debt fund the $16.5 million, you are voting for a 3.5% rates increase on top of the additional increase. And I guess I also want to note about water funding that we are in a transitional point, and I think we need to acknowledge that, that we've sort of sat between one lot of water reform and another lot water reform and, you know, exactly the form that will take, that that does mean that this year is somewhat different, and I just want to acknowledge that, and doing it under an extremely dynamic— the extremely dynamic environment. I want to give some reassurance around the Waterfront funding and the funding for the Regional Water Entity, that these are placeholders and Actually, they amount to good financial planning. So if you vote against them now, you are voting for us to be less well-prepared in terms of our budget and our funding as those things progress. It doesn't mean we commit to the outcomes that are decided there. It is a placeholder amount in a budget, and that has been explained to us. That is very different from deciding to do a thing. I guess I just want to note and to echo comments made by Deputy Mayor Foone about the Begonia House. I'm in the same position as you. I have an open mind. However, I won't be voting, even though I have a lot of admiration for the mayors and I helped with it, but I don't believe— I believe we have had too much focus on restoring buildings and Unfortunately, we— it prevents us from having the resources to do more future-focused work, and that is at the front of my mind. I just want to acknowledge your comments, Pauwiwi Kelly, because I don't think you're alone in your frustration about Wellington Water. However, if we don't agree to that funding, Who does it hurt? It doesn't hurt Wellington Water. It hurts Wellingtonians because it means we're at greater risk of failure because work won't get done. So that is on the basis on which I'm supporting it. I don't expect to convince you, you're a force of nature, but I might convince somebody else. And I guess I just want to close, and I want to thank you, Councillors, for all your kind words. About today's meeting. I support that. I believe this has been a very good meeting, and I guess I want to say that local government is a team sport, and I know sometimes individual players want to promote their own contribution to the outcome. However, it is very much a team sport. That means all of you and, you know, how you express your view as a committee. For me, I consider myself on the same team with our staff who have done a magnificent job in a short period of time. And I guess I want to also acknowledge I pushed you a little bit over a few issues in the last couple of weeks. And you know, the input that Lindsay has had, and which I think we have both taken on board, you know, both elected members and staff, in a very constructive way. And I am really trying to look seriously at the suggestions Lindsay makes to how we do things and try and put them into place. And I actually think it's working well. So thank you, Lindsay, as well, even though I won't maybe say you're on, you're sort of a special, I don't know what you are, ref. I also, I want to acknowledge the team in the Mayor's Office and particularly Nadine and Michael, and extra particularly that this has It has been an extremely busy start to the year, and I appreciate all the support that we do together. And I also want to acknowledge the captain, Mayor Whānau, for your leadership, which I really think has got us into a good position today. Probably everybody has the odd little thing they're going, "Eh, eh, eh," but, you know, I think that is inevitable. Under the financial conditions that we find ourselves in. And we have to be able to adapt the decisions we make according to the conditions we find ourselves in and be less rigid in our decision-making, be able to be flexible. And, you know, it's things I want that I've had to let go, and I think everybody is in that position. So I think therefore, over to you, Nia Whānau, for your right of reply.

It's all been included as one. No, no, that's okay, it's fine, it's all good. It's carried unanimously. All right, can we scroll down again? Can we do water reform all together? No. Okay, we'll do it all separate? Okay, 18, which is noting The consultation material on water reform. That is carried with one vote against. Then we go to 19, that is that the local water done well options will not be audited. That is carried with 2 votes against. We move to 20, that is the budget has been updated to reflect the preferred water reform option. That is carried with 3 votes against. Can I do revaluation and general rates together? Yes. Oh damn. All right, so we'll do 21, which is to note the impact of the citywide revaluation on property values. These are two just noting recommendations, Councillor Brown. You want— don't want to note the second one? Okay, sorry. That is carried with one vote against. Uh, that is okay. So that is carried unanimously, and Councillor Freese's vote is in favour. 22, noting that we're maintaining our current general rates differentials. That is carried with 3 votes against.

Absolutely correct. Yeah, great question and great clarification. So this is only with the annual plan and the LTP amendment component, and for that to go to audit and go through the process. So the auditors will want to know that you're, as a collective governing body, comfortable with the content of that and happy for it to go go through that audit process. You will still have the opportunity to vote on that component of it as well as the water reform consultation document component at the March meeting, and that's before it goes out for consultation. And at that point, Parts A and B, or the annual plan— well, the LTP amendment part will include an audit opinion within as well.